When Latimer Falls Deputy Sheriff Gabby Grimm receives a call for help from cousin Annette in NYC just before Christmas, she rushes off to uncover the mystery of the Gingerbread house and the missing co-worker. Things get ugly fast. It's up to her to rescue the bossy damsel in distress and bring her to Black Forest Farm for safekeeping, the FBI hot on their heels as they try to make a mob case. More

Deputy Gabby Grimm, a girl with a gun...A desperate plea for help from Cousin Annette takes Gabby to NYC just before Christmas, to unofficially hunt for a missing co-worker at Frist and Company.

The opinionated widow, still not used to life without Paul, a true prince of a husband, isn't having much luck with finding a new guy. It’s been one embarrassment after another, especially after a jealous wife went ballistic on her in front of her co-workers. Annette’s latest office romance? It’s a complete disaster -- the guy has disappeared without a trace. Is he a con man who took a powder on purpose, leaving Annette with egg on her face, or did something more sinister happen?

As if that’s not bad enough, Annette's terrified she leaked confidential information to a company competitor -- there will be legal hell to pay if her employers find out. When things get ugly fast, it's up to the experienced deputy from Latimer Falls, Vermont to rescue the bossy damsel in distress, but first Gabby has to sort things out. What is so special about the scale model of the condo development that Annette crafted out of gingerbread? It’s just a Christmas decoration, isn’t it?

Her plan to bring Annette to Black Forest Farm for safekeeping goes awry as the FBI, hot on their heels, closes in. The feds want to make a mob case involving possible fraud and dangerous construction practices, so they pin a bull’s eye on Annette, hoping to get her to roll over. Unbeknownst to Annette and the deputy, the FBI had an inside man on the job. Now they’re squeezing him to produce results for the DOJ, but he’s got it bad for Annette, and that ain’t necessarily good. Can Gabby help her cousin navigate her way out of this mess, or is Annette going to find herself behind bars for the holidays? When the heart of the ugly construction fraud surfaces, how far will the real bad guy go to protect his vile scheme? Is he willing to sacrifice Annette to get what he wants?

She is also known as The Practical Caregiver, offering helpful tips, information, and education for families providing care to a loved one on The Practical Caregiver Guide. She is the author of "The Practical Caregiver's Essential Guide: How to Help Someone You Love" and a short, free guide for caregivers providing end-of-life care called "The Practical Caregiver's Guide to Home Hospice".

Readers of This Book Also Read

Reviews

Review by:
Georgia
on Feb. 17, 2013 :
Where's Hansel and Gretel's Gingerbread House? is the second book in the Gabby Grimm Fairy Tale Mysteries series.

Set around Gabby Grimm, the Deputy Sheriff of Latima Falls, who receives a call from her cousin, Nettie, asking her to come visit A.S.A.P.. So it's a long train ride on aching limbs (after a incident on a roof) from Vermont to NYC for Gabby. Once there Nettie spills her heart out about being used by (yet another) man, Joe Fortune, who has now mysteriously vanished. All he left behind was a phone number and when Gabby calls him (to give him a piece of her mind) she reaches not Joe Fortuna, but Mike Alves. Next thing she knows, she has her very angry boss calling her up, courtesy of the FBI, demanding she get both herself and cousin down to Vermont now. Nettie is a wanted woman and the FBI are coming for her.

What has her cousin stumbled into now? Who is Joe Fortuna and Mike Alves? Are they the same person? Why are the FBI involved? And does it have anything to do with Nettie's job in real estate?

It's a quick dash to gather evidence, hide it from prying eyes and prove both their innocence and uncover the conspiracy that unfolds.

The story starts pretty slow, but starts to pick up later on. Considering the length of this novella, a slow start is easily read through. It's not slow or long enough to make you lose attention. The plot itself is pretty fun and enjoyable. The book is set around Christmas (though it can be read at any point during the year), but isn't about the holiday itself, it's more of just a simple backdrop. Nice snow, cold weather and a very important gingerbread house.

The characters are likeable and very similar to the types of characters this author creates. If you've read any of her other books, you can feel the similarities between them. For one, a lot of her stories are set in Vermont. There's usually a confident, female lead who needs to help someone in trouble, usually someone who can't help themselves.

There are also nice, little details (from the original fairytales this series is based loosely on) woven into the text. The plot of each book is set around a basic detail from the Brothers Grimm stories. In this book it's the gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel. There are also other very small things added in. Gabby has a cat called Puss N' Boots. Her father runs a German style chalet called Black Forest. There are a few nice "easter eggs" worked in, that are fun to come across.

I haven't read the first book (Snow White and the Huntsmen), but I don't think it affected my enjoyment of this book at all. I believe each book can be a stand alone story or read as a series, with each book having a different setting, but with a few recurring characters.

A fun, light read. If you're a fan of Sara Barton you'll love these. If you're interested in cozy mysteries, why not try it? A quick read that will lead to an enjoyable afternoon.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.(review of free book)

Review by:
kari cook
on Jan. 02, 2013 :
I was really pleasantly surprise by this book. I had not read #1 but I did not feel lost reading this one first. I have purchased the first one so I will be reading it. This mystery takes place during Christmas but can be read any time of the year. I liked the small town Vermont even though a lot of the action takes place in NYC. The main character is a deputy but travels to NYC to help her cousin. The characters were a lot of fun and the mystery was good with a twist at the end. Enjoy(review of free book)

Review by:
Mirella Banfi
on Dec. 27, 2012 :
I missed the first one of this series, but I'll go back and read it too. I like Gabby!(review of free book)

The second tale of Gabby Grimm is good, some action,drama,crime solving, but what I like best of her stories is the characters and how they act together and work together.
I really like Gabby and how she cares and wants to help those around her.
Wish I could have had her more with Sam.
Gabby at the begining is chasing a suspect across a snowy roof top and slides off.
Her being sore and full of bruises takes off to go see her cousin that asks for help.
Her cousin is involved with the mob and FBI and her boyfriend has gone missing after she gave him private work papers.
This is a shorter story or novela that I got for free on Smashwords right now. You should give Sara Barton books a try. I like them so far. I believe this is number 5 I have read in the last few days.
Published: Nov. 28, 2012 Words: 36688 (approximate)ISBN: 9781301825486(review of free book)

Review by:
Rob Thompson
on Dec. 03, 2012 :
Gabby Grimm strikes again! Loved Gabby in "Snow White and the Hunter" and she proves that she's smart, tough and all heart. Great story (read SW & the Hunter first).(review of free book)